How civilians were effected by the war

August 1914- Defence Of the Realm Act- to make sure Britain had enough resources and to make sure the British people were in a fit state to fightand support the war

Government could take control of vital industries, 2.5 million acres of land/buildings, british summer time for more working hours,alcohol

Conscription, stopped talk of the war, censorship, rationing

Many men voluteered in 1914, believed it would be over 'by christmas'. By 1915, more casulties and less volunteers so not enough replacements

Conscription (1916)- all singlemen between 18 and 40 had to fight- then married too

Conscientious objectors didn't fight for religious/moral reasons- treated as criminals and imprisoned, some carried out non violent work such as ambulence driving

Women did men's work

German U-boats attacked food ships from the US to Britain. Britain took three main steps to solve it:
1) Navy convoys- got 25% of merchant ships down to less than 1% being sunk
2) Compulsory Rationing- 1918, voluntry in 1917- used for beer, butter, sugar and meat. some hoarded food as prices were rising then selling it on the 'black market
3) Britain grew more food- Women's land Army (1917), big new labouro force which worked on farms

2 of 4

Effectiveness of government propaganda

1914- entusiatic, adventurous, right to fight, would be 'over by christmas

Censored letters from soldiers and newspapers

Reporters were kept away from battles, no photographs with dead soldiers

Casulty figures were not available

People away from the front line could not imagine the actual conditions of war

Attitudes changed as the war went on

1500 civillians were killed during bombing raids, no obvious succes on the western front until 1918, government couldn't hide injured veterans or deaths from families, difficult rationing and increased taxes

Propaganda posters encouraged men to sign up, enocuraged US involvement, War Propaganda Bureau (sep 1914), Ministry of Infomation produced films- The Battle of the Somme (1916), National War Aims Commitee (June 1917) issued propaganda literature and speeches

3 of 4

Germany and Paris Peace Conference

Attitudes towards Germany

Resposible for the war

Should be punished

Should pay for the damage

In 1918 election, politicians knew they were able to gain support if they treated Germany harshly

The Paris Peace Conference

France: (Georges Clemenceau) damage to landscape, industry, people/ wanted to cripple Germany so it could not attack again

USA: (Woodrow Wilson) 14 points for the PPC, League of Nations/ wanted Germany to be punished but not to harshly, would one day recover and want revenge

Great Britain: (David Lloyd George) wanted Germany to be justly punished but not harshly, loss of nav and colonies, keen for G and GB to trade again- second largest trading partner so more British jobs, public pressure was strong